Fluid dispenser



April 6, 1965 G. B. DAvls, JR

FLUID DISPENSER Filed April 15. 1963 This invention relates generally to medication dispensers of the squeeze bottle type wherein, with previous devices, as the resilient walls of the dispenser are compressed, a mixture of air and medication is directed from the nozzle portion of the device in the form of an atomized spray and upon release of the dispenser air is drawn back into the dispenser through the discharge nozzle.

With nozzle sprays of this type wherein the dispenser nozzle is inserted within the nasal passage of a person being treated, it has been found that not unfrequently pressure is released upon the dispenser walls before the nozzle has been completely removed from the nasal passage, whereupon, infectious mucous from the nasal passage is drawn back into the dispenser with the returning air. Furthermore, it has been found that even after nozzle removal from the nasal passage, a portion of the contaminated iilm of mucous and medication generally covering the nozzle surface will, upon pressure release, be drawn back into the dispenser to result in a condition equally as objectionable as the first.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a medication dispenser of the squeeze bottle type wherein a mixture of air and medication is directed from the discharge nozzle thereof as external pressure is applied to the resilient walls of the dispenser and wherein, upon release of the pressure, an arrangement of dow-controlling valves within the device operate to prevent the return of air or liquid throughthe dispensing nozzle by providing that the air return to the receptacle by way of a separate port located in spaced relation to the discharge port.

A further object of this device is to provide a dispenser of the resilient wall type wherein the entire multiple valve system thereof formsl a part of the nozzling portion of the apparatus thusly permitting the nozzle assembly to be readily used with various sizes and shapes of resilient walled receptacles without alteration or modification of the latter.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser of the type disclosed wherein only a minimum quantity of fluid may be trapped between the air discharge control valve and the discharge nozzle should pressure be inadvertently applied to the device when the nozzle is in an inverted position.

An additional object is to provide a dispenser of the type herein shown wherein the closing cap therefor operates to simultaneously close both the discharge and air return ports of the device as the cap is threaded into place.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description while referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a cross sectional view of the device partly in elevation and partly cut-away and showing the air return passage through the housing rotated 45 degrees for the purpose of description and clarity.

FEGURE 2 is a view in elevation of the valve dislt as arranged over the base of the valve housing.

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation looking down upon the dispenser nozzle and showing to advantage the vertical grooves therein.

FIGURE 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly cutaway as taken along plane 4 4.

FGURE 5 is a view in section partly cut-away of an alternate form of the nozzle assembly and showing the rates tet air return valve rotated 45 degrees for the purpose of description and clarity.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FlGURE 1 thereof, the receptacle member lll of the present device is preferably formed of resilient material such as polyethylene plastic and may be of any size or shape suitable for the purpose. The receptacle includes an upward extending neel: ll wherein is press-lit a plastic nozzle assembly generally designated l2. rIhe nozzle includes an oval-ended hollow shell-like member 13 wherein is provided an arrangement of vertical grooves ld shown to advantage in FGURE 3. Centrally located within the closed end of the shell is an exhaust port l5 through which a mixture of medication and air is dispensed from the device during its operation as will hereafter be more fully described. Beneath the exhaust port l5 is a depending member i6 wherein is press-iit a iiexible tube i7. The free end of the tube extends down through the medication 18 and into close proximity with the receptacle bottom i9. Vertical grooves 2li formed in the member i6 to the sides of the tube 17 provide means whereby air is passed from volume 2l to the exhaust port l5 concurrently with fluid from volume i8 as internal pressure is put upon the system.

Tightly sleeved in sealing relation over the tube i7 and member le is a valve housing 22 wherein is arranged two of the three valve assemblies of the device. Annular flanges 23 formed about the extending edge of the housing, serve to mate with associate grooves provided therefor in the shell whereby in addition to forming a pressure seal therebetween further serves to maintain the housing securely in place within the shell following assembly thereof.

A recess 5d formed in the upper end of the housing and wherein is received member ld, encloses a thin closely fitting tubular sleeve 25 of resilient material such as rubber. rlfhis sleeve normally closes openings 26 and serve therewith to provide the air discharge valve of the system. This valve assembly supplies air to the discharge port l5 from volume 2l during operation of the device. Medication from l passes through tube i7 normally closed at its lower end by valve assembly 35?. The valve 28 is comprised of a rigid cap member 29 wherein is enclosed a closely fitting resilient tubular sleeve 351i. The arrangement of the sleeve 3d is such as to normally close duid entrance ports 3l but operative upon a slight increase in pressure within the receptacle to move from the ports to allow iluid from volume lil to pass through tube lll and on to the discharge port l5.

The air return ports 35 in the housing are normally closed by the resilient disk member 36 held firmly in place against the base of the housing by sleeve 37. ln order that ports 35 will readily intersect the air return ports i4 extending through the shell as shown, an annular groove is provided about the housing as at 39 to intersect the ports lli as the housing is pressed into posi tion within the shell. As previously described, flanges 23 provide a pressure seal on either side of the groove 39 once the housing Z2 is in place.

FEGURE 5 is a variation of the invention wherein the valve housing 4l is in the form of an annular disk held in place within the shell by iianges 42 as previously described. The annular groove 43 admits air to ports 41% normally closed by resilient valve disk 45 held in place by sleeve d6. A similar valve disk 47 closes the air discharge port 48 and is held in place over the housing by the sleeve 49. Air leaves the receptacle by passing through 48 and by the valve disk i7 before entering grooves 2li and from the dispenser by way of the discharge opening 15 along with iluid from tube 17.

Now to described briefly the operation of the device thus far disclosed, the receptacle lill is lled to substanyliquid of 18. At this point all valves of the device are closed. As pressure is applied to the resilient side walls of the receptacle to increase the pressure therein, fluid from volume 18 forces open valve 2S to pass through tube 17 to the discharge nozzle 1S. Concurrently therewith, air from volume 21 passes through opening 53 in the Ahousing to open the air discharge Valve sleeve 25 and by way of grooves 20 to pass from the discharge nozzle With the liquid from volume 18 as an atomized spray.

During the foregoing operation the air return valve disk 36 remains closed. As pressure is released upon the Walls ofV the receptacle, valve members 25 and 30 instantly close to prevent air or liquid'entering the discharge nozzle While the air return valve disk 36 opens to pass air from 44 and 35 back into the system. This operating cycle is repeated each time the Walls of the receptacle are compressed'and released.

passages and operative upon an increase in pressure within said receptacle to open to pass fluid to said discharge port to atomize the liquid ow therethrough, means forming an air return passage into said receptacle, valve means normally closing said air return passage and operative to open said return passage upon a decrease in pressure Within said receptacle.

2. A dispenser of the type disclosed including in cornbination a resilient Walled receptacle, an atomizing discharge nozzle assembly disposed in a Wall of said receptacle, means forming a discharge port in said nozzle, a liquid communication passage extending fr-om within said receptacle to said discharge port, means forming an air passage for air communication toV said'discharge port, valve means normally closing said liquid com- Vmunication passage and said air passage and operative uponV anincrease in pressurerwithin said receptacle to open and pass air and liquid Vto said discharge port,

One of the primary advantages of the present arrangement is the smallness of the volume 56 which, as cone structed, can .hold only a drop or two of liquid. The purpose of this small volume is'that should the receptacle be compressed when in a base up position and with the cap 32 in place, liquid from 13 Will be trapped between the discharge port 15 and Valve member 25. Should this occur, the next normal operation of the device will result in the liquid being discharged from the port 15 in the Y form of a stream rather than as an atomized spray as intended. Y The present varrangement provides for an almost instantaneous clearing of the nozzle should this occur.

Thecap is so designed at'33 as to close both discharge port 1S and air return ports 44 as the cap isthreaded into place upon vthe receptacle neck 11.

1., An atomizing dispenser of the type disclosed including in combination a resilient walled receptacle, means forming a discharge port in said receptacle, means forming a plurality of mutually separate fluid communiv cation passages respectively for air iiow and for liquid flow from within said receptacle to said discharge port, valve means normally closing said Huid communication means forming an air return passage into said receptacle and located in space relation to said discharge port, valve means normally closing said air return passage and operative upon a decrease in pressure Within said recepticle to open to effect air return to said receptacle.

V3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ow controlling valve means thereof forms a part of said nozzle assembly. l n

4. A dispenser of the resilient wall type including in combination a resilient receptacle,'means forming a filling mouth in said receptacle, a nozzle assembly closing said iilling mouth, means forming a discharge portrin said nozzle assembly, a liquid supply tube forming a part of said nozzle assembly and extending from Within said receptacle to within operative relation with said discharge port, means forming in said nozzle assembly an air discharge passage from Within said receptacle to said discharge port, valve .means respectively closing said liquid supply tube and said air discharge passage, said valve means being Voperative upon a predetermined in- Y crease in pressure within said'receptacle to open to allow the passage of liquid and air to said discharge port, means formingV in saidnozzle assembly an air return passage into'said receptacle, valve means normally closing saidrair return passage, said last named valve means being operative upon a decrease in pressure within said Vreceptacle to admit external air totsaid receptacle.

Y 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the nozzle assembly includes the valves of the assembly.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,715,980 c 8/55 Frick 222--212X 2,761,833 9/56 YWard 222-212 X 2,796,294 6/57 McKinnon 239-327 2,876,935 3/59 Lindberg 222-212 X Louis r. DEMBo, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ATOMIZING DISPENSER OF THE TYPE DISCLOSED INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A RESILIENT WALLED RECEPTACLE, MEANS FORMING A DISCHARGE PORT IN SAID RECEPTACLE, MEANS FORMING A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY SEPARATE FLUID COMMUNICATION PASSAGES RESPECTIVELY FOR AIR FLOW AND FOR LIQUID FLOW FROM WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID DISCHARGE PORT, VALVE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING SAID FLUID COMMUNICATION PASSAGES AND OPERATIVE UPON AN INCREASE IN PRESSURE WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE TO OPEN TO PASS FLUID TO SAID DISCHARGE PORT TO ATOMIZE THE LIQUID FLOW THERETHROUGH, MEANS FORMING AN AIR RETURN PASSAGE INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, VALVE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING SAID AIR RETURN PASSAGE AND OPERATIVE TO OPEN SAID RETURN PASSAGE UPON A DECREASE IN PRESSURE WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE. 